Chapter Text
Shen Qingqiu was the marbled black leopard of Qing Jing Peak.
At the highest ledge sat a grove of lush bamboo, thick to the point of obscuring sight. And therein was the good master’s home. A singular path carved its way up through this show of seclusion, made up of carefully lain stone. It was said that to place even a single toe upon the very first step was to invite misfortune, and so naturally rumors ran wild as to why.
As if designed to reinforce these murmurings, the most esteemed cultivators gave the sky above a courtesy distance when flying on their swords. If the sect leader paid a visit, even he was sure to use the path, despite urgency or whatever distance it may have added to his travels. None dared to intrude uninvited.
New disciples were told only the once from their shizun’s own mouth: “No one is to approach my home, regardless of the reason. Punishment will be immediate.”
The favored explanation for this was a simple one. Many believed Shen Qingqiu was hiding away a dainty wife of unparalleled beauty. It was said that her face was so moving as to cause a man to fall in love with her upon sight alone, and her kindness so inexhaustible that her grace could tolerate even the most inhospitable of environments.
In short, the only kind of woman who could possibly entice, and furthermore marry, a contemptible man like Shen Qingqiu.
Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit!
The only thing tucked away in the bamboo grove like a precious doll was Shen Qingqiu’s twin brother, Shen Yuan.
Upon waking up in this body, Shen Yuan’s disorientation had been profound. After all, transmigration he could conceivably cope with, yet how was he supposed to deal with inhabiting the body of a character who was never in the original work? Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky, do you have a good explanation for this? Was this man who shared his name in the original draft or not!
For the time being, Shen Yuan decided to assume that this role had been forcibly created for him by the System itself. After all, the likenesses were too startling otherwise. In his past life, he had been the youngest son in a wealthy family, and he had been prone to illness and weak of body. Thus, his life had consisted of comfort, leisure, and endless hours to while away his existence. Surely, it was only with such a lifestyle that one could feasibly read all of Proud Immortal Demon Way to completion. Who else had the time to bother?
The Shen Yuan of this world’s cultivation was on par with his twin’s, shockingly, but there were some shortcomings to this. Namely, he had been inflicted with a poison while young which inhibited his ability. It was only through sheer tenacity and his brother’s guidance that he apparently overcame an inevitable death and eventually managed to reach mid-core formation. However, due to Without A Cure’s cumbersome meddling, his qi often fluctuated in its stability, rendering him wholly unreliable in any meaningful capacity and making him prone to bouts of weakness and, on occasion, illness.
Airplane, Brother, was this character powerful or not? What kind of Gary Stu fantasy was this! Who can form such a core with unstable qi! How has this Shen Yuan not suffered fatally from a qi deviation from the first attempt! And you make him ill? Tell me, what is the purpose other than certain tragedy?
Considering that Shen Yuan was not a character featured in the official work, he was almost afraid to ask what had happened to this man who shared his namesake. A treacherous snake like Shen Qingqiu having a mournful backstory was unnecessary for reader satisfaction. Who cared if he had once a twin? That excused none of his venomous and horrific actions!
Well, that was to say, that was how Shen Yuan felt about the novel’s portrayal of Shen Qingqiu. But now, living under his care, ah…
Things had become complicated in that regard.
“Is A-Yuan hungry?”
“I could eat,” Shen Yuan answered vaguely, looking up from his book. Old habits died hard, alright? He had been here three months and there was only so much he could look out the window and occupy himself with his own thoughts! Reading was a fine occupation, even for an immortal!
“Then I will send word,” Shen Qingqiu told him, gracefully rising and moving to the open window where a small bird was perched. He tapped it lightly with his fan and it fluttered off, carrying an unencrypted message through transmitted qi.
Very… elegant.
Very reclusive.
Shen Yuan had a begrudging respect for the means of communication, even if he knew at the other end of this favor was thin, almost flavorless broth.
Inedia was asking too much of this one! At least allow him to still taste food! That was one of his few prior joys, and at this point the broth almost seemed savory in comparison to nothingness!
Within no time at all, a diligent knock came at the door to the bamboo house and Shen Qingqiu waited a page turn’s before going to open it. A bowl of broth sat neatly outside, as if ordered via delivery. The person who had brought it—Ming Fan, Shen Yuan presumed—had long departed.
With a delicacy that was surprising for a lead villain, Shen Qingqiu slowly lifted the platter and brought it to the table, setting out the broth for his twin with a deeply ascertaining gaze and open concern. After finishing this task, he went back to shut the door.
The truth of the matter was, it was difficult for Shen Yuan to loathe this Shen Qingqiu as much as he had the man in the story. Although his face was cold and his eyes carried a withering bite, he became almost warm in Shen Yuan’s presence. No matter what Shen Yuan requested, Shen Qingqiu pursued it without question. He never spoke of his feelings, but his devotion was wholly apparent.
Shen Yuan said some prayers for the Original Goods. ‘I was in the wrong. You should have at least been allowed to keep your genitals.’
***
Shen Qingqiu idly tossed the jade pendant on the table like so much trash, and Shen Yuan felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end as he stared at it.
Luo Binghe’s fake jade pendant. There was no mistaking such a prominent plot point, and it was about that time, wasn’t it? The protagonist must have just recently lost it.
So, then… why did Shen Qingqiu have it?
“What’s this?” He asked, moving to pick it up. His brother’s face darkened upon seeing him touch something from the outside world, but he refrained from commenting as Shen Yuan studied the key item more closely.
“Some disciple of mine has littered,” Shen Qingqiu said bitterly. “I found the object hanging from a tree branch.”
Ah ha ha…
Really! Brother of mine, kind enabler, do you not think this is more than just crumpled parchment?
“What are you going to do with it?” Shen Yuan asked, trying to keep his identical face neutral.
His twin exhaled a noise that sounded put upon. Then he settled with, “If it is sought, I may choose to return it. If not, I shall discard it.”
Throw away the protagonist’s treasure! You wish for death!?
“May I hold onto it?” Shen Yuan asked, his voice light and innocuous, as though he found the object pleasing.
Shen Qingqiu arched a brow, looked disdainfully at the object, and announced, “It is a fake.”
As if to imply that Shen Yuan deserved better. How touching! And how misplaced! Value is not in quality, okay? This is the protagonist’s most cherished object!
“I know,” Shen Yuan agreed. And then, after considering it for a moment he added, “I sense… positive energy emanating from it. It feels lucky.”
His brother’s eyes narrowed, flicking to the faux jade and back, less like he was seeking falsehood and more as if he were trying to understand. After a moment, he relented. “As A-Yuan wishes. It is yours.”
Shen Yuan gave a brief smile even if he went sheet white on the inside. Brother, I want to live! Don’t curse me like this! When did I ever say I wanted to keep it for good? The System's [Congratulations! Obtained key item!] did little to soothe his anxiety.
He ended up tucking away the pendant in a cabinet of his belongings. And if perhaps he affixed a talisman to it in order to ward off evil, who could truly blame him? He wanted no misunderstandings about his intentions!
***
Luo Binghe was not where he was supposed to be.
He had asked after his jade pendant, and Shizun had been displeased. His face had filled with scorn as he told him, “You disgrace this peak with your ineptitude. You will be reprimanded.”
His shixiong had beaten him before demanding he perform a list of laborious chores. Of course, he understood he deserved this outcome. He had been too negligent with something tremendously important to him. He had lost it due to weakness, and if he lacked the ability to become stronger then he would lose much more than a keepsake in the future.
But, admittedly, it did cloud his mind with bitterness.
The spark in Luo Binghe that implored him to believe that Shizun was doing this for his own good was starting to die out. He feared that, soon, like a star in the night sky… it may be there one moment and gone the next.
For that reason, realizing he had stumbled into the clearing that held Shizun’s home made his heart beat to life with both curiosity and apprehension. Its appearance was more elegant and simplistic than expected, when Shizun walked with the stride of a noble. A newly sown seed quickly took root; if he could understand him better, would he be able to follow his teachings without wavering?
And so, against his better judgement, he approached.
There was an open window on what seemed to be a side room. He simply wanted to peek inside, and then he would run away in order to digest whatever it was that he spied.
Yet, as if summoned, the moment Luo Binghe was close enough he could have grasped the sill, a figure appeared. His eyes locked with those of the man’s.
Shen Qingqiu.
Cold sweat prickled all over Luo Binghe’s body, his throat closing under the weight of that surprised expression. Shizun had made himself so utterly clear, and despite that this disciple had been disobedient! If was expelled from the sect, then so be it! Clearly, this act was one of Luo Binghe’s many failings, and Shizun’s appraisal of him had been nothing but accurate!
Just as he was about to shout his apologies, the figure in the window jolted and surged forward, leaning far out in order to press his fingers against Luo Binghe’s lips. There was a wild expression on that beautiful face, bearing no hint of coldness. The skin against his lips was soft, and carried a sweet fragrance. A silken sleeve tickled his cheek.
Luo Binghe could only stare, stunned into silence.
A breeze disturbed Shizun’s hair, and he was ensnared by how lovely the man looked in casual form—hair tied up less elegantly, robes light and white. It was as if he might have only just roused from slumber and decided to spend a serene day indoors.
Slowly, the fingers pulled away from his mouth and Luo Binghe obligingly said nothing as that perfectly sculpted face changed emotions—first hesitance, then questioning, then relief. It was as if he were trying to say with his eyes, ‘Don’t speak, okay?’
Unable to do anything other than obey, Luo Binghe nodded, throat tight, feeling the loss of contact deeply in his chest.
As if to reaffirm the need for silence, Shizun pressed a finger to his own lips—
The same that had touched Luo Binghe’s!
And then the man dropped his hand to perform a motion that he could only fathom meant, ‘Wait.’
Again, as if uncertain, Shizun hesitated. It was like he was attempting to confirm that Luo Binghe understood him. He glanced to the side once, appearing to check for something, and then disappeared into the home.
Luo Binghe awaited his return, breathless and bewildered.
When he did, it was on silent footsteps. Shizun leaned out the window, cradling something in his hands. When he opened them, the jade pendant sat on his palms. It had been cleaned and polished, and gleamed in the light with a radiant luster. Luo Binghe was aware that it was fake—surely Shizun could see as well, with his discerning eye—and yet he had cared for it so tenderly. Luo Binghe held out his hands, accepting it, unable to help the shudder that went up his spine at the burn of those pale fingers where they brushed his own.
He stared at it, uncomprehending. Shizun had punished him earlier for asking about it. So why—
When he looked up, the man in the window was smiling all the way up to his eyes. As if pleased with his own handiwork, he leaned out just a little further than before to pat Luo Binghe’s head like he was a fisherman’s dog.
No.
No, now that he looked closer—
This wasn’t Shizun.
It was clearly a man, and he clearly bore Shizun’s face, but it wasn’t Shizun. They didn’t move the same. They didn’t smell the same. Luo Binghe was embarrassed to realize he should have recognized this fact sooner.
The not-Shizun made a shooing motion with his fingers, mirth sparkling in his eyes. Luo Binghe nodded. If this wasn’t Shizun, then that meant one or both of them could be in trouble! He left, putting more care to be quiet in his flight than he ever had before, clutching the jade pendant to his chest all the while.
His mind was tumultuous, ravaged by crashing waves of thought and emotion.
‘Who was that?’
***
Shen Yuan exhaled a long sigh, a strange kind of prickling exhilaration thrumming through his blood. He shut the window before it could entice any more plot important characters to his yard.
He had just! Interacted with! The Protagonist!
A shining beacon! A dirty, abused child with soulful eyes! A beauty unparalleled even in youth, who could drown you in his purity!
How could Shen Yuan mistake him for anyone else? He had practically glowed in the sunlight!
What an opportune time to get rid of a death flag of an object! Shen Qingqiu was cruel and merciless to his disciples, that much was evident, yet Shen Yuan was now fully of the mind that he wished his brother remain very much alive. After all, without him, Shen Yuan’s life would surely be full of misery. Black lotus protagonist killing off an entire family line in vengeance? Par for the course! Without Shen Qingqiu to take out his anger on, Shen Yuan was next!
And, perhaps… maybe…
Shen Qingqiu seemed to adore his twin in his own way. It was hard to begrudge him. What was that saying? A hero would sacrifice you for the world; a villain would sacrifice the world for you? It was deceptively touching to have that kind of spotlight!
It only occurred to him exactly what he had just managed to get away with when he stepped further into the main room and spied his brother dozing calmly on his bed, perfectly immaculate, not a hair out of place. Oh, what the image of an immortal! And he hadn’t woken even the slightest bit.
A giddiness bubbled up in Shen Yuan.
Undoubtedly, he had just altered the plot for the better. Was that what this felt like? Agency? Character depth? System, where were his points!
[+100 Protagonist Satisfaction Points!] The System chirped at him cheerfully. Shen Yuan had hardly utilized this program so far, instead choosing to spend his days in idleness, so he was unabashedly smug about its quick response. He was right! This occasion had warranted points!
[+2 Character Complexity for Shen Qingqiu!] Ohhh! Extra points!
[-10 Reputation Points with Protagonist for Shen Qingqiu.] The System concluded, no longer sounding as enthusiastic.
It took Shen Yuan a moment to register this and his eyes bored into the screen as he read it over at least three times. Minus points? Dear System, do you not mean plus? How could such a good event lose points!
The System unhelpfully said nothing.
Shen Yuan paced a few times, wracking his brain. His brother failed to rouse, likely seeing no need to engage himself in whatever was causing his twin to fuss.
After some consideration, Shen Yuan gave Shen Qingqiu a contemplative look. Then, he happened to spy his own reflection in a bronze mirror. Could it be…
Did the protagonist think he was Shen Qingqiu? Did he think he was mocking him by returning the object in such a manner? The fabled protagonist was brilliant of mind as a black wolf, but what now? Was there any way that sheep-faced disciple could realize he wasn’t his shizun? Did appearing so suddenly, lacking Shen Qingqiu’s refinement of form, cause him to accidentally lose face for his brother?
Surely Luo Binghe must be thinking: ‘My Shizun is a sloppy man who jeered at me as he threw the pendant into my hands! I will have my revenge!’
Satisfaction from regaining the item from evil! Loss of reputation for having it at all!
Shen Yuan dropped harshly to his knees and this caused his twin to now startle off of the bed, flitting to his side as if he’d teleported. “A-Yuan? What is it? Are you not feeling well?”
He gave him a despairing look. “I feel as if I have seen a ghost.”
It was true.
Shen Qingqiu’s expression hardened. Commander of cruelty, lacking in the art of metaphor. He said, “I shall call for a master exorcist at once.”
As dumbfounded as Shen Yuan was, there was little he could do. Soon his home was professionally purged of the phantoms it never had. He was unable to suffer the shame of crushing his brother’s thoughtful righteousness.
Instead, he busied himself with another thought. It was one that dominated all of his senses.
‘I may have just made our family’s end even worse than before. If so, I need to stop stalling and start taking action.’
He couldn’t have possibly known that on the other side of the mountain, Luo Binghe went to sleep in the woodshed with the pendant once more tucked safely against his chest. Clutching his hands over it, the memory of its return to him filled his body with warmth.